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‘Love at first bite’: Q&A with the American Truffle Company’s Robert Chang

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:15 GMT

Robert Chang tasted a truffle for the first time at a trattoria in Germany — and it changed his life.Today, as chief truffle officer at the American Truffle Company, Chang works with scientist Paul Thomas and clients around the country to plant oak and hazelnut orchards with a goal of getting black truffles to grow beneath the trees. And the company hosts the annual Napa Truffle Festival — this year’s will be Jan. 12-15 — which offers educational talks as well as a series of truffle-loaded meals sure to make foodies swoon.Chang recently chatted with us about what it takes to grow truffles outside Europe — and why sharp-nosed dogs are now preferred over truffle-hunting pigs.American Truffle Company’s chief scientist Paul Thomas, third from left, and chief truffle officer Robert Chang, to his right, invite chefs to prepare a high-end meal highlighting truffles each year at the Napa Truffle Festival. (Courtesy American Truffle Company) Q. I know...

A ‘pocket of hope’: This Bay Area school district made a difference on Black students’ scores

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:15 GMT

For most K-12 student groups in California, test scores have been maddeningly flat since the pandemic. But for Black students, stagnant scores have been particularly frustrating: Black students’ math and English language arts scores inched downward for most grade levels last year, notching some of the lowest scores among any student group.Related ArticlesEducation | Cursive writing was so yesterday in California, but in 2024 it’s back in class Education | Evelyn Chua reappointed as Milpitas vice mayor Education | Saratoga High student musicians represent at state level Education | Los Gatos High student musicians represent at state level Education | At Farm Discovery at Live Earth, kids get up close with farm animals and see how their food is grown At least one district, however, has reversed that trend. Emery Unified, a small district tucked between Berkeley and Oakland in the east Bay Area, saw i...

No evidence of nexus to terrorism in deadly Rochester crash, officials say

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:15 GMT

(CNN) — [Breaking news update, published at 10:55 a.m. ET]The suspect in the deadly Rochester, New York, crash has died, and there is no indication of “political or social biases,” authorities say. Two other people were killed in the crash.“We’ve not uncovered any information leading us to believe that the actions of Michael … are motivated by any form of political or social biases,” Rochester Police Chief David M. Smith said Tuesday.Officials have not identified a nexus to terrorism in the incident, said FBI Special Agent in Charge Jeremy Bell. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating the incident, he said, but added that is “not abnormal.”[Previous story, published at 9:33 a.m. ET]A deadly car crash outside a New Year’s concert in Rochester, New York, is being investigated as domestic terrorism after the suspect allegedly left a suicide note and journal in his hotel room, according to a source...

Service resumes after BART train derails, catches fire near Orinda Station Monday

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:15 GMT

ORINDA, Calif. (KRON) -- Bay Area Rapid Transit train service on the Yellow Line in the Antioch and San Francisco International Airport directions was halted after a train derailed and caught fire between Orinda and Lafayette stations Monday morning. BART will be running normal train service on Tuesday between Rockridge and Walnut Creek stations following overnight repairs and safety inspections in the area.A Yellow Line train heading eastbound was derailed outside of the Orinda Station around 9 a.m. Monday. The passengers self-evacuated and were escorted to Orinda Station by BART personnel, according to the BART Police Department.As of 4 p.m. Monday, two lanes of eastbound Highway 24 were closed and a crane was enroute for placement. Around 7:10 p.m., both of the impacted cars were re-railed and were being towed away to the yard.According to BART, two train cars were on fire. Orinda-Maraga Fire District crews were able to extinguish the flames.Nine passengers on the derailed train ...

Person arrested for selling illegal fireworks in San Rafael

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:15 GMT

(KRON) – A person was arrested for selling illegal fireworks in San Rafael the weekend before New Year's Day. The weekend prior to the New Year, officers contacted a suspect in possession of and selling fireworks on the corner of Medway Road and Canal Street in San Rafael. One dead, two injured in SF rollover vehicle accident According to police, the suspect admitted to selling fireworks to the public. The officers seized the illegal fireworks as evidence.(Photo: San Rafael Police Department)The suspect was arrested for illegal fireworks possession and sales.The San Rafael Police Department announced the department received over 40 calls regarding illegal fireworks on New Year’s Eve and New Year's Day. 

Stock market today: Wall Street slips to start 2024 and gives back some of last year’s big gains

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:15 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is starting 2024 weakly on Tuesday and giving back some of its powerful gains from the year before.The S&P 500 was 0.6% lower in midday trading after pulling to the brink of its all-time high set roughly two years ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 11 points, or less than 0.1%, as of 11:30 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 1.4% lower.Some of last year’s biggest winners were slipping the most, including a 2.9% drop for Apple. Tesla, another one of the “Magnificent 7” Big Tech stocks that drove much of Wall Street’s gains last year, was swinging between losses and gains after reporting its deliveries and production for the end of 2024. It was most recently 0.7% higherNetherlands-based ASML sank after the Dutch government partially revoked a license to ship some products to customers in China. The United States has been pushing for restrictions on exports of chip technology to China. ASML’s U.S.-listed shares fell 3.9%, an...

Nuevas leyes: varios estados verán cambios en educación, anticonceptivos y acceso a las armas

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:15 GMT

Varios estados a lo ancho del país recibieron el año nuevo con leyes que entrarán en vigor a lo largo de 2024 sobre temas como la violencia armada, la prohibición de libros y las secciones de juguetes neutrales al género.Un número cada vez mayor de estados requerirá cursos de educación financiera en las escuelas secundarias, mientras que unos pocos otros agregarán acceso a anticonceptivos al eliminar la necesidad de recetas médicas.Mientras las legislaturas estatales se preparan para otro año de propuestas que abordarán los temas más divisivos del país, estas son algunas de las leyes que se harán realidad este 2024:PASILLOS DE JUGUETES NEUTROS EN CUANTO AL GÉNEROA partir de enero, California exigirá que los principales minoristas del estado incluyan secciones de juguetes neutrales al género en sus tiendas. No se permitirá que las nuevas secciones se comercialicen solo para niños o niñas, sino que deben incluir una “selección razonable” de juguetes que puedan comercializarse para men...

Hezbollah’s TV station says top Hamas official Saleh Arouri killed in an explosion south of Beirut

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:15 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — Hezbollah’s TV station says top Hamas official Saleh Arouri killed in an explosion south of Beirut.Source

4 teens arrested following chaotic chain of events near Bayside Marketplace

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:15 GMT

Four teens have been arrested following a series of chaotic events near Bayside Marketplace in downtown Miami that all began, police said, after a large fight involving teenagers. The incident unfolded Monday evening just after 8 p.m. following calls of a large fight involving juveniles armed with sticks. Video sent to 7News showed a large group of teenagers setting off firecrackers on the road and running, scattered all over and screaming, causing residents, tourists, and people in the area to panic.Officers arrived and were able to clear the area. However, hours later, around 10:45 p.m., police said, a group of juveniles targeted a man’s vehicle near SE Third Avenue and Second Street. Police said when an unknown object was thrown at the man’s vehicle, he exited the vehicle. That is when, police said, the group began to kick and punch the man. During the altercation, the victim was also robbed of his cell phone. Responding officers immediately arrived on the scene and c...

Woman accused of kicking small dog repeatedly in Lowell pleads not guilty, ordered to have no contact with animals

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:15 GMT

A woman accused of chasing down and repeatedly kicking a small dog in Lowell pleaded not guilty when she faced a judge on Tuesday.Kimberly Hernandez, 30, appeared in Lowell District Court after she was charged with two counts of animal cruelty for an incident that was caught on surveillance camera on Friday, Dec. 29.The video, captured just after 2 a.m., showed a woman repeatedly kicking a small dog at an apartment building before the animal appeared to scamper away.On Tuesday, prosecutors said additional footage showed Hernandez grab the dog by its neck, throwing the animal, then hitting it.Officials said Hernandez admitted to them that she had been drinking the night of the incident and that she reached a boiling point before the alleged animal abuse.When shown the footage, prosecutors said the 30-year-old became emotional, and that she said she had taken out her frustration on the dog.Hernandez was later released on $5,000 bail. She was also ordered to surrender any pets she owns...